Post-Game Talk: Leafs Salvage A Point | Lose 6-5 in Shootout.

[Evilhomer]

Ovechkin was a loser until 2018 too right, can't win shit, regular season guy that chokes in the playoffs, couldn't beat Crosby or the Rangers

Everyones a loser until they aren't. Hell Matthew Tkachuk might've been the biggest playoff choker in his Calgary days, now ? Back to back finals and a cup.

You're only a loser until you aren't. It's frustrating sure, but these guys are not "losers" Matthews IMO is the greatest goal scorer of his generation with legitimate upside to be a top 3 goal scorer of all time when it's all said and done.

I have faith in Matthews and Nylander and oddly this year Marner too because of his commitment to a physical game. Maybe we win this year, maybe we don't, but as long as we have Matthews + Nylander and possibly Marner, we will be contenders.

People need to understand it's a tough league, 32 teams, there's gonna be 31 losers every year. If this team delivers even 1 cup over the next 7-8 years, it'll all still be worth it. Hopefully we don't have to wait that long, but it took Ovechkin 13 years to get his, it took Mackinnon 9 years to get his.

Matthews is in year 9 now, maybe it'll happen this year and maybe it won't. But success isn't linear, he's an elite talent that has a chance to win it all every year.

1,000% correct, and kudos to you for actually providing a level-headed response rather than the usual "these players are losers!" after the tragedy of....an overtime loss (mind you, one game after this place was on cloud 9 because the Leafs walked over a different scrub team).

 

[Evilhomer]

If he’s secretly just Ilya Samsonov and Jack Campbell in disguise the team will have to quietly move off him. One event snowballing into a multi week tailspin cannot happen.

There is nothing in his numbers or his play to even remotely suggest that he is in the nature of those two guys. It's just people blindly overreacting, as usual, after a tough game. Go back two pages in that Woll thread and there are reams of posts with ridiculous brick wall memes. It's irrationality at its finest.

 

[Twine Tickler]

Our powerplay has been a huge issue in the playoffs.
I could possibly understand having a poor to average PK due to personel or questionable goaltending but theres just zero excuse for this group of players to ever get shutdown on the PP. Makes me think something, either the playstyle or setup was extremely easy to scout and eventually exploit.

Yup,

there really is no excuse for the poor results on the PP. I really think it's come down to an inability to win 1 on 1 battles in the offensive zone and not moving the puck quick and dynamically enough. Way too many times we'd see the puck get moved around the umbrella without ever working the puck low to high. Pretty hard to break the PK box when you're not forcing guys out of position.

It's definitely a simpler PP now. I know it wasn't necessarily a PP goal, but the 4th Leaf goal from last night (JT goal) was a prime example of a play we never really made. Won draw, Marner walks the blue, draws the Shark forward up high and then puts the puck towards net. Far too often we'd see them p***y foot the puck around the umbrella trying to open up a lane for Matthews or Nylander to walk into one.

This set play used to be Mo at the blue line with Auston or Willy on the wall. Without fail, instead of putting the puck towards goal, they'd play it down the wall (blue arrow) and that winger would either attempt a shot on net, try a high risk cross seem dish or circle it back up top. It was so predictable. Not to mention, because that puck carrier at the blue line was usually Mo, it never really drew the PK'er up high enough because they knew he'd never put it towards goal.

Theres just a way more dynamic nature to our PP with Mitch at the point, and I am really happy to see that wall to wall pass through traffic be less of a focal point. It very rarely worked once teams caught on back in like 2022

 

[TheDoldrums]

He’s the highest paid player in the game. Is he even in the Top 25 this year?

yes quite easily

 

[Larcos_Unal]

You guys make conclusions after each single game. See how it plays out.

I'm making conclusions? You're on the record stating we'll win the division and the Stanley Cup and that Chief will win the Jack Adams...let's see how it plays out indeed.

 

[Evilhomer]

I'm making conclusions? You're on the record stating we'll win the division and the Stanley Cup and that Chief will win the Jack Adams...let's see how it plays out indeed.

Crazy to pick them to win the division when they are in first place in the division.

 

[pdson]

It’s not a nitpick of his words, it’s a general critique that he’s extremely business as usual about the team and is unable to provide a steady example of leadership with his play. What he actually says to the team doesn’t matter to me at all, it’s that his actions doesn’t demonstrate consistent leadership.

And that circled back to the original critique. He is not fully accountable to his own quality control.

Complete and utter made up BULLSHIT with you . Your just a hater when it comes to Matthews every single post criticizing him never nothing good to say. As a matter of fact every single post of yours is negative
What are you even doing here. Are you even a Leaf fan ?

 

[Budz]

Lots of interesting takes in here.

I will add milky warm one.
Robertson cannot play in the playoffs.
Too soft, too many dumb penalties, too much time off his skates.

Laughton is and should be the 3C. Robertson is not a fit, especially when understanding that this is where coach will play Domi. That is no bueno.

Gotta add Jarny, Homberg or Patches if healthy.

 

[Jojalu]

You’ve lost the plot when you are nitpicking him saying I vs We. It doesn’t matter. And he’s not at all wrong to say we. He was far from the only one what he said would apply to.

As for the rest of what you said which has nothing to do with what we were talking about, the best choice for the team is being made between him, management and medical staff. They have obviously weighted the pros/cons of sitting him or having surgery. Without the info it’s hard to judge whether they are doing right or not

And despite all the challenges, and no nobody thinks Matthews is performing to what we want or need of him, but he’s still 11th in the league in points per game for the entire season.

Much higher since Jan 1.

The first half of the season was pretty terrible as he was 0.98 ppg. I would like to think that was due to the injury.

Nevertheless since Jan 1 he is at 1.32 PPG and right there with the best.

 

[Jimmy Firecracker]

Ovechkin was a loser until 2018 too right, can't win shit, regular season guy that chokes in the playoffs, couldn't beat Crosby or the Rangers

Everyones a loser until they aren't. Hell Matthew Tkachuk might've been the biggest playoff choker in his Calgary days, now ? Back to back finals and a cup.

You're only a loser until you aren't. It's frustrating sure, but these guys are not "losers" Matthews IMO is the greatest goal scorer of his generation with legitimate upside to be a top 3 goal scorer of all time when it's all said and done.

I have faith in Matthews and Nylander and oddly this year Marner too because of his commitment to a physical game. Maybe we win this year, maybe we don't, but as long as we have Matthews + Nylander and possibly Marner, we will be contenders.

People need to understand it's a tough league, 32 teams, there's gonna be 31 losers every year. If this team delivers even 1 cup over the next 7-8 years, it'll all still be worth it. Hopefully we don't have to wait that long, but it took Ovechkin 13 years to get his, it took Mackinnon 9 years to get his.

Matthews is in year 9 now, maybe it'll happen this year and maybe it won't. But success isn't linear, he's an elite talent that has a chance to win it all every year.

They're on track to be big time career losers. One series win in 8 seasons is horrible, no ifs ands or buts. This can all change of course like you said with one good run and a Championship, but right now they've demonstrated nothing to show they're any closer to ending this franchises drought than they were in previous seasons. They look like the same un-clutch bunch of sucks they've always been.

I really hope this isn't the case, but they have to at least go on a couple of respectable runs to keep from being historical laughingstocks.

 

[Stephen]

I dont even care what he says, I care more about the impact of it

Yeah true, it’s just gotta look a lot different on the ice and consistently impactful. When Matthews leads properly the team looks different.

But I don’t really like his blase casual statement about everyone needing to be better as a collective. No man, you gotta lead and recognize your role in all of this.

 

[AvroArrow]

They're on track to be big time career losers. One series win in 8 seasons is horrible, no ifs ands or buts. This can all change of course like you said with one good run and a Championship, but right now they've demonstrated nothing to show they're any closer to ending this franchises drought than they were in previous seasons. They look like the same un-clutch bunch of sucks they've always been.

I really hope this isn't the case, but they have to at least go on a couple of respectable runs to keep from being historical laughingstocks.

Like I said, Ovechkin got dummied by Crosby and the Penguins almost every year in the playoffs, or struggled with the Rangers.

You're only a loser until you're not, Florida for example was considered the worst organization in the league. Now they're widely regarded as one of the best run organizations.

I'm not giving up on Matthews and this team. If we go down on the Auston Matthews ship, I'm alright with that. I hope that's not the case, maybe I'm the optimistic idiot but as long as we have Matthews and Nylander, we'll have a shot to build a competitive team every year.

 

[Gallagbi]

Yeah true, it’s just gotta look a lot different on the ice and consistently impactful. When Matthews leads properly the team looks different.

But I don’t really like his blase casual statement about everyone needing to be better as a collective. No man, you gotta lead and recognize your role in all of this.

You're looking too deep into this

 

[CabanaBoy5]

As captain, I don’t care what Matthews chooses to say to the media. The only thing that actually matters is what he says to the team which we are not privy to.

Obviously we're not in the dressing room, but we can infer based on their play that there isn't enough accountability, regardless what he says in there. Last night was an abomination. To say publicly that finishing first is important and then go out in the first period and skate like they don't care is not a good look on the leadership in that room. Captain Matthews was one of the worst offenders (see the shorthanded goal).

 

[MK78]

I went to sleep after 2 periods. I was pleasantly surprised that they managed to tie it, in last minute no less... Too bad that they couldn't get the two points. So many points wasted vs these shitty teams.

 

[PanniniClaus]

I went to sleep after 2 periods. I was pleasantly surprised that they managed to tie it, in last minute no less... Too bad that they couldn't get the two points. So many points wasted vs these shitty teams.

Same - I was in bed early in the third. Take the point and run.

 

[Ports]

Matthews: I didn’t love our game tonight. We just seemed slow. We didn’t seem to take care of the puck much. We were just kind of messing around with it too much. They are a young, skilled, hungry team despite where they are at in the standings. They are playing hard every night.

The question put to our captain is why aren't YOU playing hard every night? You're the captain, why is the team slow, why didn't they take care of the puck, why were they just messing around, why isn't your team hungry? Wtf, you're the captain, address this with your team and make sure it doesn't happen against shit teams.

He can address it but at the end of the day he has to lead by example or his words are meaningless. And he’s not consistent enough in his game to game effort or impact.

 

[Ports]

I'm not "guaranteeing" anything. Obviously, no one can. I simply think that is how things will play out. But I get that having even the slightest optimistic opinion on this board engenders societal disdain and ridicule, as if in real life people make these kinds of damning conclusions on an instantaneous basis ("Woll sucks!", a week after posting a goofy brick wall meme when the kid has a good game).

Again, people genuflect at the mention of the Florida Panthers, and meanwhile they lost to Montreal and the Islanders a couple of weeks ago. Tampa overwhelmed Utah last night, but no one remembers that a week ago Utah beat Tampa and two weeks ago Tampa lost to the same Flyers team that the Leafs overwhelmed. I expect we will see something similar over the next few days - Florida plays Montreal twice, and will likely lose one of those games (which would send Leafs fans over the ledge), and Tampa plays the Islanders twice, and will likely lose one of those games. Neither of these two teams is going to run off 7 or 8 wins in a row.

The games they play against each other will decide the outcome and you know the Florida teams will be up for those games. Not sure we can be so sure how the Leafs will respond.

 

[Ports]

Thank you!

I’ve been asking since the TDL if Benoit was that much better than Myers that we have to force a LHD who is better than both of them to play on his offside, which he clearly doesn’t play as well.

I don’t think Benoit is that much better than Myers (not a Benoit hater), and I don’t understand why Myers has not gotten into a single game since the TDL.

We know what we have in Benoit. I think there is undeveloped potential still in Myers.

They chose Myers over Timmins, so why are they not giving him an opportunity, while reducing OEL’s effectiveness?

OEL should be playing with Carlo and so they have a physical top four and then let Rielly, Benoit, Myers and Hakanpa (LOL) battle it out for the bottom pair minutes.

 

[LaPlante94]

They need to be consistent not way more just consistent they’ve been ass since 4 nations matter of fact the whole year marners been better away from Matthews spread the offence or flip the wingers in the top 6

Yeah I'd love for Marner and Tavares back on a line and Nylander and Matthews on their own lines or getting more of a chance together. Don't think it's going to happen because that 2nd line has been pretty damn good recently so don't see any changes really except maybe Robertson for Holmberg or Patches when he's healthy.

 

[LaPlante94]

Go back even further to his first few years in the league and his shot speed and release are not close to what they were yet last year he scored 69 goals because he’s learned to score in different ways. With whatever is ailing him this year, he’s just not going to beat a good NHL goalie from mid range if they can see the puck. That’s a huge weapon the Leafs can’t rely on right now.

Yeah we definitely need him to be a threat from everywhere and not relying on just scoring from in close. Maybe we lucked out by him only signing for 4 years if it's just gonna get worse.

 

[Kiwi]

This teams problems are all mental

They lose to a bottom feeder with a piss poor effort, the coach reams them out a practice, they play against another bottom feeder and curb stomp them for a huge win, play against another bottom feeder don't turn up and manage to salvage a point they didn't deserve

That's Nashville Philadelphia and San Jose

When there motivated and mentally ready they win those games, when there not they don't

Suggests to me We have a leadership and accountability issue in the room, it's going to be hard to win playoff rounds with that

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

View attachment 1001258

You call yourself a salesman you son of a bitch?

 

[MilkofthePoppy]

Ovechkin was a loser until 2018 too right, can't win shit, regular season guy that chokes in the playoffs, couldn't beat Crosby or the Rangers

Everyones a loser until they aren't. Hell Matthew Tkachuk might've been the biggest playoff choker in his Calgary days, now ? Back to back finals and a cup.

You're only a loser until you aren't. It's frustrating sure, but these guys are not "losers" Matthews IMO is the greatest goal scorer of his generation with legitimate upside to be a top 3 goal scorer of all time when it's all said and done.

I have faith in Matthews and Nylander and oddly this year Marner too because of his commitment to a physical game. Maybe we win this year, maybe we don't, but as long as we have Matthews + Nylander and possibly Marner, we will be contenders.

People need to understand it's a tough league, 32 teams, there's gonna be 31 losers every year. If this team delivers even 1 cup over the next 7-8 years, it'll all still be worth it. Hopefully we don't have to wait that long, but it took Ovechkin 13 years to get his, it took Mackinnon 9 years to get his.

Matthews is in year 9 now, maybe it'll happen this year and maybe it won't. But success isn't linear, he's an elite talent that has a chance to win it all every year.

I don't disagree with you.... I am just fatigued lol.

 

[rumman]

You call yourself a salesman you son of a bitch?

First place is a new Cadillac, second place is a set of steak knives, third place is your fired…….